This afternoon David Moyes will return to Goodison Park for the first time since he left Everton during the summer to take charge of champions Manchester United.

Prior to that, the Scot had spent the previous 11 years trying to topple United, one opportunity of which arrived nine years ago today. It turned out to be an encounter that Moyes would later describe as his favourite memory from his battles with Sir Alex Ferguson - the man he replaced at Old Trafford.

The hosting Toffees had not beaten United for 10 years going into this fixture when Duncan Ferguson scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory. Here, there would be a strong sense of deja vu.

The visitors started positively, with Wayne Rooney, who was roundly booed by supporters who had once cheered him, calling Nigel Martyn into action in the sixth minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo was next to test the Everton goalkeeper, while up the other end Tim Cahill thought that he had scored with an acrobatic effort, only for Wes Brown to retreat in time to volley clear the danger.

United had been the dominant force during the first half, but their failure to capitalise on that was punished with 54 minutes on the clock. Mikel Arteta swung over a dangerous cross and when Ferguson shrugged off the attention of Rio Ferdinand, he was able to guide a header past Tim Howard.

In response, Ronaldo stung Martyn's palms from distance, before United were reduced to 10 men when full-back Gary Neville was handed a straight red card by referee Phil Dowd for deliberately kicking the ball into a section of Everton fans.

Rooney continued to lead the charge, but although his shot from the edge of the area beat Martyn, the ball crept inches wide of the upright and with it went United's last meaningful opportunity.

There was still time, though, for the situation to deteriorate further for the Red Devils when Paul Scholes was given his second yellow card of the contest for a kick out at Kevin Kilbane.

"I thought it was a proper game. I thought it was a game where everybody was into it. There was a real tempo to it and I think it was the sort of game that everybody has been waiting a while to see. Obviously from our point of view I'm pleased we came out on top," Moyes said after the final whistle.

"It was an incredible atmosphere. I thought it was one of the best nights I've had at Goodison regarding the crowd. It was terrific.

"The fans were all right behind us and they can see how much the players are giving. We're doing the best we can and if we keep doing it for the rest of the season then hopefully we'll get some reward for it."

Meanwhile, a defeated Ferguson was less than complimentary about the match official's performance: "Everton fought and hunted down every ball. They had that big crowd behind them and we got no protection. Scholes was sent off for a late challenge, but how many late challenges came in on us our there? I think Everton knew they had a weak referee and they exploited that to the full."

EVERTON: Martyn; Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Watson; Carsley, Arteta, Cahill (McFadden 86), Kilbane; Bent (Osman), Ferguson (Beattie)

MAN UNITED: Howard; G Neville, Ferdinand, Brown (Silvestre), Heinze; Fletcher (O'Shea), Keane, Scholes, Ronaldo; Rooney, Van Nistelrooy